Planning begins for developing Ajloun Tourism Trail
Ajloun - The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II conducted a three-day Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) of the tourism potential of three villages in Ajloun. This was done in coordination with Al-Ayoon Municipality , the Ajloun tourism department and the local community. This assessment is part of the planning phase for the development of a tourism trail in Ajloun, which seeks to develop new tourist products and services and attract more visitors to the north of Jordan.
Ajloun encompasses some of Jordan’s most scenic green landscapes, with pine and oak forests and deep valleys. Only an hour’s drive from Amman, the area also boasts much biblical history. The purpose of the PRA was to assess the tourism needs and potentials of Ajloun and its communities. The assessment ran from 27 May to 1 June, and the results will be used to plan for implementation of the trail.
The tourism trail will take visitors through three villages in Ajloun, where they will learn about the history of the area, meet and interact with the people who live there, and enjoy the rich nature of Jordan’s north. The aim is to transform Ajloun into an attractive tourism destination for both local and international tourists.
The PRA is a tool for assessing the situation of an area and engaging the local community, including decision makers, associations, and leaders to help in gathering information, determining potentials and needs, setting decisions, and assessing results in order to prioritize the design of a project and meet the needs of the targeted area. In this case, the PRA will help to include the communities of Ajloun at all stages of the development of the tourism trail and ensure that it is successful by creating a product that responds to the demands and needs of both tourists and locals. The results will be used to execute programs and development projects with close involvement of the local community.
The results of the tourism assessment provide information needed to begin developing the Ajloun tourism trail and offer recommendations to guide those involved to ensure the product meets community needs and is thus supported by the locals. This is vital to the success of the trail, which will enable visitors not only to experience the wonderful nature and history of Ajloun but also interact with the communities living there and experience the warmth of Jordanian hospitality.
The next step will be to work closely with the local communities involved to develop a plan of action for implementing the trail.